NBC News pundit Chuck Todd tweeted: “Good grief, this is an AWFUL start to the debate. Great TV, I guess… but come on, another attack on someone’s looks?”

Sorry to say, it was great TV. If you hoped for personal attacks between Republican candidates, live infighting, 10 men in suits plus one woman posturing for the camera, the second GOP debate on CNN was oddly entertaining. There were enough Trumpisms to satisfy non-political junkies. (Jeb Bush versus Donald Trump, reason to pay this month’s cable bill. Trump versus Rand Paul, better than pro wrestling.) If the whole thing had lasted only 20 minutes it would have been even better.

Speaking of the camera, Chris Christie pulled a fast one at the very start, asking CNN to turn the camera on the audience rather than on himself. And the director obliged! That’s TV as entertainment, not a political contest, not a serious discussion of issues or policies.

Great TV, but too long.

“If I were at home watching this, I’d be inclined to turn it off,” John Kasich said of the debate. And that was in the first of three hours.

Who won? That depends. Carly Fiorina proved she can be as tough and well spoken as any of the guys and had the perfect deflection for Trump’s comments on her looks (“I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.”)

Bush proved he can smile while Trump bashes him. Ben Carson showed he can pull off wide pin-stripes. Kasich and Scott Walker reminded people they’re running.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.